Bracelet extension



March l5, 1938. o, MYRBERG 2,110,936

ABRACELET ExTEN/sIoN Filed Dec. 17, 1934 Patented Mar.. 1.5, 1.938

man

ATENT oFFie-E BRACELET EXTENSION Sven 0. Myrberg, Providence, R. I., assigner to Providence Stock Company, a corporation of Rhode Island Application December 17, 1934, Serial No. '757,807

2 Claims.

My present invention relates to the jewelry art, andhas particular reference tothe construction of extension devices for bracelets and watch Straps.

Extension devices have heretofore been made with folding plates adapted to be releasably locked in folded position; and adjustments have been provided to permit changes in the overall length of the extension device to better fit the bracelet or watch strap to the Wrist of the wearer.

These adjustments have necessitated opening the bracelet or watch strap to change the setting of the adjusting mechanism; it is the principal object of my invention to devise a construction which will facilitate and permit adjustment Whether the extension device is in open or closed position.

it is a further object of my invention to profvide an adjusting mechanism which is suitable for use with thin and with narrow extension devices, whereby a relatively large extension and a substantial amount of adjustment is obtainable with extension devices that are extremely compact when in folded position.

It is an additional object of my invention to provide an adjustable extension device formed of a small number of sturdy and strong parts.

With these and other advantageous features in view, the invention consists of a novel arrangement of parts more fully disclosed in the following detailed description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, and more particularly defined in the appended claims.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a plan View showing the extension device in closed, adjusted position;

Fig. 2 is a side View of the extension device, the folding parts being in opened relation;

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the extension device, the folding parts being extended;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but broken away to show the adjusting mechanism; and

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawing, the bracelet or Watch strap Ill, preferably formed of separate vlinks Il hingedly connected together by hinges l2, includes an extension device i3. The extension device comprises a top plate i4 having side channels l5, in which a link it is slidably mounted, the link lt being secured to one end of the bracelet lil, an intermediate plate I1 hinged to the top plate, and a base plate t8 hinged to the intermediate plate and secured to the other end of the bracelet I0.

As shown in Fig. 4, a plate I9 is mounted in the top plate lf3, the plate i9 having a central recess 2B, one sid-e of the Vrecess being formed with a plurality of ratchet teeth 2l. The link lli, see Fig. 3, has its end recessed to provide a spring bar 22 having a depending pawl 23 selectively engageable with the teeth 2| and a lateral extension 24 which extends out through a slot 25 provided in one wall l5 and is adapted to be engaged by a finger nail or the like. The link I5 has additional recesses 26, 2l and a cross bar 28, to simulate bracelet links when the link is outwardly extended from the top plate.

The top plate side walls are provided with snap recesses 29, 3l?, and the base plate, which has side Walls 3|, is provided with cooperating snaps 32, 33, rwhereby the base plate and the intermediate plate may be releasably folded into the top plate, as shown in Fig. 5. A finger catch 3ft is provided on the top plate, see Figs. 2 and 4, to facilitate opening the extension device.

The operation of the novel construction may now be explained; with the device in closed position, the finger catch is lifted, and the extension devicev opened. The pawl is still engaged with a selected tooth, however, but may be released by pressing the extension'by a thumb nail or nger nail, thus moving the pawl away from the ratchet teeth and permitting a further longitudinal movement of the entire link to extend the same outwardly from the topy plate, the extension moving in the slot 25, until the pawl engages the end of the central recess 2U. When the extension is no longer pressed inwardly, the pawl reengages the ratchet teeth to prevent further outward movement of the link, while permitting inward movement until a desired overall length is obtained.

The described arrangement is suitable for bracelets and watch straps of any type, whether link, mesh, leather, etc.; the parts are solid and sturdy, and present a completely closed, attractive appearance. The adjusting mechanism permits a selective length setting whether the eX- tension device is open or closed, and a further contraction after the extension device is folded in closed relation.

Although the sliding link has been described as slidably engaging the top plate, it is obvious that it may cooperate with the base plate, and that other desired changes in the arrangement, number, and size of the parts and in their operation, may be made to conform to different designs of bracelets, within the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

of the link and is selectively engageable with said teeth, and a manually engageable part slidable in said side Wall slot and operatively connected to said arm.

2. In an extensible connector for bracelets, a

member having side walls, a link slidably mounted in said member and eXten-dible from one end thereof, one side wall of said member having a slit, and an element xed in said member and having a longitudinal recess provided with a series of longitudinal disposed ratchet teeth, said link including a resilient arm provided with a paw] which extends at right angles Vto, the plane of the link and is selectively engageable With said teeth, and a manually engageable part slidable `in said side Wall slot and operatively connected to saidarm, the end Wall of said recess serving as a limit stop abutment for said pavvl.

SVEN O. MYRBERG. 

